A Lagos woman has finally recovered almost all of the N68,715 she mistakenly transferred to an Uber driver after a week-long dispute that drew public attention and renewed questions about consumer protection in Nigeria’s fast-growing digital payments ecosystem.
The passenger, identified as Ayomide Ayoola, had intended to pay N7,635 for an Uber ride on July 5 but accidentally transferred N76,350 to the driver’s account—adding an extra zero to the payment. She only realised the error several hours later when she attempted another bank transfer and discovered her account balance had dropped far more than expected.
According to Ayoola, she immediately contacted the Uber driver, Oluwaseye Falowo, who acknowledged receiving the payment but did not immediately return the excess funds.
Instead, the refund process stretched over several days, with repeated assurances, missed deadlines and partial repayments before the outstanding balance was eventually settled.
From Apology to Public Pressure
Ayoola said the driver initially promised to refund the money later that day but failed to do so. Subsequent conversations also failed to produce an immediate resolution, prompting her to seek assistance from Uber and later raise the issue publicly.
The driver later explained that he could not return the money immediately because of personal financial commitments and said he intended to repay it in instalments.
He eventually transferred N20,000 after several days, despite earlier promising to refund N30,000, leaving an outstanding balance of N48,715.
The slow pace of repayment attracted widespread criticism, with many arguing that money received in error should be returned immediately rather than gradually.
The dispute took a decisive turn after media reports brought wider attention to the case. Ayoola said relatives of the Uber driver contacted her several times after learning about the incident and subsequently assisted in clearing the remaining balance.
Two additional transfers—N25,000 followed by N23,000—were made over two days, leaving only N715 outstanding. According to Ayoola, her husband decided to waive the remaining amount, effectively bringing the matter to a close.
Uber and Banking Limits
The case also highlighted the limited remedies available to customers who mistakenly transfer money through Nigeria’s banking system.
Ayoola said she reported the incident to Uber after the driver failed to return the funds promptly. The ride-hailing company reportedly offered a goodwill credit for future rides but did not recover the mistakenly transferred money.
She also contacted the financial institution that received the payment and was informed that the transaction could not simply be reversed or the recipient’s account restricted without following established legal procedures.
Under Nigeria’s payment regulations, banks and fintech companies generally cannot reverse authorised transfers without the recipient’s consent or a valid court order, except in limited circumstances.
A Reminder for Digital Payment Users
The incident serves as another reminder of the risks associated with instant bank transfers, which have become the preferred payment method for millions of Nigerians.
While digital payments have made everyday transactions faster and more convenient, they also leave little room for correcting simple mistakes such as entering an extra digit or transferring funds to the wrong account.
Consumer advocates say the case underscores the importance of verifying payment details before confirming transactions, while also raising broader questions about whether payment platforms and digital marketplaces should introduce faster mediation processes for clearly documented accidental transfers.
Although the dispute ultimately ended with the passenger recovering virtually all of her money, it has reignited debate about the responsibilities of recipients, digital payment providers and service platforms when customers make costly but genuine mistakes.
